Record ban for Millers defender

ROTHERHAM United defender Kirk Broadfoot has been banned for 10 matches after being found guilty of a misconduct charge by the Football Association.

The incident occurred during a Championship game between the Millers and Wigan on March 14.

An independent regulatory commision hearing deemed the Scot had “used abusive/and or insulting words towards a member of the opposition, in breach of FA Rule E3(1).”

An FA statement added: “It was further alleged that the breach was an ‘aggravated breach’ as defined by Rule E3(2).”

Broadfoot, 30, was also fined £7,500 and ordered to complete an education programme.

It is reported that the incident involved James McClean, recently transferred to West Brom, with Broadfoot unhappy at the award of a free-kick which he felt the Republic of Ireland international had dived to win.

Wigan scored from the resulting free-kick, and after that game Broadfoot claimed: “He’s cheating. That is cheating. I am nowhere near him and he’s diving.”

The ban is a record for verbal abuse in English football, beating the eight games handed to Luis Suarez when he was found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra in December, 2011.